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Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is borders Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. Seventy percent of the country is covered by mountain ranges. Plateaus, and highlands. The overall topography of the country is mountainous and hilly consisting of thick green forests. The highest point of Laos is Phou Bia with a height of 9,242 ft while the lowest point is along the Mekong river with a depth of 229 ft. A very small percentage of the country is viable for agricultural use with most of the land found along the Mekong River along the border with Thailand. These article discusses some of the tallest mountains of the country.

Tallest Mountains In Laos

Phou Bia

Phou Bia is the tallest mountain in Laos; it is located at the southern limit of Xiangkhoang Plateau in Xiangkhouang Province. The region around the mountain is cold and cloudy due to the height of the mountain. Historians document that in early 20^th century the mountain summit was covered by snow but in recent times, no snow has been reported. The mountain is located in the remote part of the country covered by thick jungles that have been used by guerrilla soldiers as training camps. The mountain has witnessed several conflicts between government soldiers and the Hmong guerilla soldiers. Tourists and mountaineers rarely visit the mountain due to military activities in the area and the presence of large volumes of unexploded mines.

Phu Xai Lai Leng

Phu Xai Lai Leng is the second tallest mountain in Laos, it is located on the border with Vietnam and

has a height of 8,924 feet. The mountain mainly composed of granite and it covered by the Asian tropical forests. The mountain is home to a variety of plant species among them moss and flower serials. The paths to the top of the mountain are treacherous and mostly used by tourists seeking adventure.

Phou Samsoum

Phou Samsoum is the third tallest mountain in Laos. It is located in Luang province in the northwestern parts of the state. The summit of the mountain is 7,961 feet above the sea level, and the width of the mountain is 1.42 miles. The terrain is hilly, and the population around the mountain is sparsely populated with a population density of approximately 27 inhabitants per square mile. The vegetation around the mountain consists of evergreen, deciduous forests, and the annual mean temperature is 24⁰C.

Phou Xao

Phou Xao mountain is located in Xieng Khouang province in northwestern Laos. It is the fourth tallest mountain with a height of 7,846 feet above the sea level. The terrain around the mountain is hilly and becomes mountainous as its slopes southwards. The vegetation consists of evergreen, deciduous forest, and the annual mean temperature is 17⁰ C while the average mean rainfall is 2333 millimeters. The population around the foot of the mountain is sparsely populated with a population density of 24 people per square mile.

Environmental Threats To The Mountain Ecosystem Of Laos

The mountains of Laos are important is maintaining a balanced ecological system but they ecoregions around the mountains are threatened by human activities and climate change. Lumbering in the country has led to the destruction of thousands of hectares of forests while the conflicts between the government and rebel forces has led migration of animals to other parts.